Lowell police officer charged with assault

LOWELL -- A veteran Lowell police officer who recently confirmed he was questioned in a department internal-affairs investigation is facing assault charges.

Capt. Kelly Richardson said in an email that Officer David Pender, who works as a resource officer in the School Department, was arrested by Lowell police at about 1:30 a.m. on New Year's Day at his Lowell residence where he lives with his wife.

Pender, 47, was charged with domestic assault and battery. Pender was transported to police headquarters and booked. He was arraigned at Lowell District Court Wednesday morning. Pender's case was continued until Jan. 14 for a pretrial conference.

Richardson declined to comment further.

Reached on his cellphone, Pender declined to comment.

Pender, whose annual salary is about $72,260, is now on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the case. Pender has been a police officer in Lowell for 27 years.

Several weeks ago, Pender told The Sun he was questioned in an internal-affairs investigation into police Officer Daniel Otero. Otero has been accused by fellow Officer Timothy Golden of having an affair with Golden's ex-wife, Meara Kennedy-Golden, 32, of Parkview Ave., Lowell.

The Sun has also learned that a fellow classmate in the 2011 Lowell Police Training Academy has charged Otero with sexual harassment. The alleged victim is now employed in a local police force.

Golden and Kennedy-Golden, a Lowell High School physical-education teacher, divorced in August.

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Last month, Kennedy-Golden pleaded not guilty to charges of breaking and entering with the intent to commit a felony and larceny over $250 at her former home. Kennedy-Golden is currently on paid administrative leave pending the internal investigation. Golden is also on paid leave, as Kennedy-Golden received a restraining order against him from Lowell District Court.

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